Getting the right combination to break the epigenetic code.

Nat Rev Clin Oncol

Division of Hematology and Oncology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.

Published: February 2025


Category Ranking

98%

Total Visits

921

Avg Visit Duration

2 minutes

Citations

20

Article Abstract

Rapid advances in the field of epigenetics have facilitated the development of novel therapeutics targeting epigenetic mechanisms that are hijacked by cancer cells to support tumour growth and progression. Several epigenetic agents have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of cancer; however, the efficacy of these drugs is dependent on the underlying biology and drivers of the disease, with inherent differences between solid tumours and haematological malignancies. The efficacy of epigenetic drugs as single agents remains limited across most cancer types, which has spurred the clinical development of combination therapies, with the hope of attaining synergistic activity and/or overcoming treatment resistance. In this Review we discuss clinical advances that have been achieved with the use of epigenetic agents in combination with chemotherapies, immunotherapies or other targeted agents, including epigenetic-epigenetic combinations, as well as limitations and challenges associated with these combinatorial strategies. So far, the success of combination therapies targeting epigenetic mechanisms has generally been confined to haematological malignancies, with limited efficacy observed in patients with solid tumours. Nevertheless, this Review captures the field of epigenetic combination therapies across the spectra of haematology and oncology, highlighting opportunities for precision therapy to effectively harness the potential of epigenetic agents and produce meaningful improvements in clinical outcomes.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41571-024-00972-1DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

epigenetic agents
12
combination therapies
12
epigenetic
8
targeting epigenetic
8
epigenetic mechanisms
8
solid tumours
8
haematological malignancies
8
combination
5
agents
5
combination break
4

Similar Publications

Rationale: Radial artery spasm (RAS) is a common complication during transradial cerebral angiography (TRA), but currently, the optimal prevention strategy is not well established. Papaverine has anti-vasospasm, sedative and analgesic effects. However, the efficacy of papaverine in preventing RAS during TRA remains unknown.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has emerged as a major contributor to systemic metabolic dysfunction and is increasingly recognized as a risk enhancer for both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). This review explores the complex interconnections between MASLD, CVD, and CKD, with emphasis on shared pathophysiological mechanisms and the clinical implications for risk assessment and management. We describe the crosstalk among the liver, heart, and kidneys, focusing on insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and progressive fibrosis as key mediators.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Neural tumors represent diverse malignancies with distinct molecular profiles and present particular challenges due to the blood-brain barrier, heterogeneous molecular etiology including epigenetic dysregulation, and the affected organ's critical nature. KCC-07, a selective and blood-brain barrier penetrable MBD2 (methyl CpG binding domain protein 2) inhibitor, can suppress tumor development by inducing p53 signaling, proven only in medulloblastoma. Here we demonstrate KCC-07 treatment's application to other neural tumors.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Resolve and regulate: Alum nanoplatform coordinating STING availability and agonist delivery for enhanced anti-tumor immunotherapy.

Biomaterials

September 2025

Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China. Electronic address:

The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway represents a promising target in cancer immunotherapy. However, the clinical translation of cyclic dinucleotide (CDN)-based STING agonists remains hindered by insufficient formation of functional CDN-STING complexes. This critical bottleneck arises from two interdependent barriers: inefficient cytosolic CDN delivery and tumor-specific STING silencing via DNA methyltransferase-mediated promoter hypermethylation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The emergence of drug-resistant pathogens has stimulated the need for the development of new antimicrobial agents. Epigenetic modulation by suppressing epigenetic inhibitors, such as 5-azacytidine (5-aza), has been shown to activate silent biosynthetic gene clusters within a fungus and causes the production of novel secondary metabolites. This research examined this epigenetic modification strategy in the poorly studied filamentous fungus, Ceratorhiza hydrophila, which may help induce the additional production of bioactive compounds.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF